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First Penny Farthing Commute!

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First Penny Farthing Commute!

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Old 08-27-08, 06:37 AM
  #1  
anomaly
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First Penny Farthing Commute!

I rode the 2.5 miles to the office today on my "new" Penny Farthing. It is a modern reproduction, I am the 4th owner. Sadly I broke a spoke at the hub flange, but that is a relatively common occurrence.
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Old 08-27-08, 07:04 AM
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nelson249
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Sounds cool, attach some pictures
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Old 08-27-08, 07:05 AM
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Awesome! That must have been turning heads like crazy!

Was it comfy? I've never ridden one, but I'd like one.

Any special items for commuting on the bike?

Got pix?
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Old 08-27-08, 07:27 AM
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Must Have Pictures!
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Old 08-27-08, 08:01 AM
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Jarery
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Gotta be a hell of a front fender, and where do you mount your rack and panniers ?
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Old 08-27-08, 08:03 AM
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At first i thought this was one of those joke threads. Definately gotta see some pictures.
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Old 08-27-08, 08:04 AM
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Huh? No idea what you're talking about.
This is the internet, man! Pictures (especially bike porn) are a requirement!!!
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Old 08-27-08, 08:08 AM
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I think this is what he was referring to:

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Old 08-27-08, 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by d2create
Huh? No idea what you're talking about.
This is the internet, man! Pictures (especially bike porn) are a requirement!!!

Penny Farthing, also know as a high wheeler or the ordinary.
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Old 08-27-08, 08:10 AM
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The great thing is, you probably don't have to lock it up... Very few people could ride it away!
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Old 08-27-08, 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by dcrowell
The great thing is, you probably don't have to lock it up... Very few people could ride it away!
Or would want to ride it away. Those things always looked scary to ride, kind of like trying to ride a 10 speed bike when you are 10. I would just love to see someone riding that one though.
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Old 08-27-08, 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by dcrowell
The great thing is, you probably don't have to lock it up... Very few people could ride it away!
I was thinking the same. Best you can do on a regular bike (if you don't have a lock) is shift to the highest gear before hopping off. Don't think your average thief will get far trying to accelerate in 52/12.
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Old 08-27-08, 08:27 AM
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There is a guy who has almost completed an around the world bicycle tour on a penny farthing. His trip is 20,000 miles of penny farthing riding so far: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?..._id=1451&v=1G2
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Old 08-27-08, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by d2create
Huh? No idea what you're talking about.
This is the internet, man! Pictures (especially bike porn) are a requirement!!!
You might remember this from Jackass 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3ti6ZyLnuw It apparently is very easy to do an endover on a penny farthing, as Johnny Knoxville demonstrated.
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Old 08-27-08, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Underbridge
I was thinking the same. Best you can do on a regular bike (if you don't have a lock) is shift to the highest gear before hopping off. Don't think your average thief will get far trying to accelerate in 52/12.
The top to my grill was stolen from my back yard, DC is a bit different than Reston =P

No pictures from the commute but here I am mounting it for the 2nd ride, which was on Monday.

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Old 08-27-08, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by m_yates
You might remember this from Jackass 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3ti6ZyLnuw It apparently is very easy to do an endover on a penny farthing, as Johnny Knoxville demonstrated.
They are called "headers" because you land on your head...they happen pretty frequently.
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Old 08-27-08, 09:41 AM
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What? No clipless pedals?
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Old 08-27-08, 09:47 AM
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Woah.
So what's it like to ride one of those?
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Old 08-27-08, 09:49 AM
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Cool! Trackstand at lights or just lean on light poles?
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Old 08-27-08, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by jyossarian
Cool! Trackstand at lights or just lean on light poles?
Working on trackstands. I've only had it since Monday and it's so much harder to ride than a modern bicycle it's insane.
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Old 08-27-08, 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by d2create
Woah.
So what's it like to ride one of those?
I'd imagine it's a little like riding a giant unicycle that has a support wheel in the back. But I've never been on one, so I wouldn't actually know. Definitely something that needs to be ridden around the Mall when you get a chance. Either way, I'll keep an eye out for you on the streets.
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Old 08-27-08, 10:32 AM
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You get full credit for the stunt riding, it looks tough to do.

Other than that though, and I'm not trying to be a dick, but I gotta ask.....why????
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Old 08-27-08, 10:35 AM
  #23  
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I needed a new commuter.
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Old 08-27-08, 11:07 AM
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So this is your commute...?

...Be seeing you
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Old 08-27-08, 11:12 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by datlas
What? No clipless pedals?
I lolled.
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